Comparison between transillumination and the roentgenogram in diagnosing paranasal sinus disease

The reliability of transillumination versus roentgenogram to diagnose maxillary and frontal paranasal sinus disease was assessed in 52 subjects with rhinitis and/or asthma. Two different otolaryngologists transilluminated the sinuses while the roentgenograms were evaluated by a radiologist and a third otolaryngologist. Patients filled in questionnaires of symptoms. There was excellent agreement (p < 0.001) between otolaryngologists regarding transillumination of the frontal sinuses but not the maxillary sinuses. Similarly, transillumination of the frontal sinuses correlated well with the roentgenograms. This was not true for transillumination of the maxillary sinuses. Although pain in the upper teeth related well to the presence of frontal disease, sinus headache was a frequent complaint but not useful as a predictor of sinus disease. Even though transillumination of the frontal paranasal sinus has some predictive value, the technique of transillumination has limited usefulness as a diagnostic tool and is not an adequate substitute for roentgenogram.     

Aplasia and agenesis of the frontal sinus in Turkish individuals: a retrospective study using dental volumetric tomography

Agenesis of the paranasal sinuses is an uncommon clinical condition that appears mainly in the frontal (12%) and maxillary (5-6%) sinuses; in some populations, it appears at a higher proportion. This study investigated the prevalence of agenesis of the frontal sinuses using dental volumetric tomography (DVT) in Turkish individuals. The frontal sinuses of 410 patients were examined by DVT scans in the coronal planes for evidence of the absence of the frontal sinuses. A bilateral and unilateral absence of the frontal sinuses was seen in 0.73% and 1.22% of cases, respectively. In one case, both agenesis and aplasia of the frontal sinus was seen (0.24%). The low percentage of frontal sinus agenesis must be considered during pre-surgical planning related to the sinuses. DVT may be used as a diagnostic tool for the examination of frontal sinus aplasia.     

Micro and nanoparticle deposition in human nasal passage pre and post virtual maxillary sinus endoscopic surgery

Realistic 3-D models of the human nasal passages were developed pre and post virtual uncinectomy and Middle Meatal Antrostomy. A 3-D computational domain was constructed by a series of coronal CT scan images from a healthy subject. Then a virtual uncinectomy intervention and maxillary antrostomy were performed on the left nasal passage by removing the uncinate process and exposing the maxillary sinus antrum. For several breathing rates corresponding to low or moderate activities, the airflows in the nasal passages were simulated numerically pre and post virtual routine maxillary sinus endoscopic surgery. The airflow distribution in the nasal airway, maxillary and frontal sinuses were analyzed and compared between pre and post surgery cases. A Lagrangian trajectory analysis approach was used for evaluating the path and deposition of microparticles in the nasal passages and maxillary sinuses. A diffusion model was used for nanoparticle transport and deposition analysis. The deposition rate of the inhaled micro and nanoparticles in the sinuses were evaluated and compared for pre and post operation conditions. The results showed that after maxillary sinus endoscopic surgery, the inhaled nano and microparticles can easily enter this sinus due to penetration of the airflow into the sinus cavity. This was in contrast to the preoperative condition in which almost no particles entered the sinuses. These results could be of importance for a better understanding of the effect of sinus endoscopic surgery on patient exposure to particulate pollution and inhalation drug delivery. The significantly higher airflow rate and particle deposition in the sinus could be a reason for the discomfort reported by some patient after maxillary sinus endoscopic surgery.     

鼻旁窦的年龄断面解剖学研究

目的：为影像学诊断和鼻旁窦手术的最佳年龄提供解剖学依据。方法：采用三组年龄的国人头部标本２９例，各组标本均按等比例分别切割为横切面、矢状切面和冠状切面。结果：各组标本均可见明显的上颌窦和筛窦；幼儿组未见显著的额窦和蝶窦。学龄组５０％未见明显的额窦和筛窦，余组标本可见额窦和蝶窦。成人上颌窦开口的长轴呈水平状，儿童上颌窦开口为向外下方的斜形管道。结论：鼻旁窦的形态有明显的年龄变化，窦额窦和蝶窦的最初气     

Computed tomography measurements of different dimensions of maxillary and frontal sinuses

Background  

We have previously proposed the use of Doppler ultrasound to non-invasively stage sinus infection, as we showed that acoustic streaming could be generated in nonpurulent sinus secretions and helped to distinguish it from mucopurulent sinus secretions. In order to continue this development of a clinically applicable Doppler equipment, we need to determine different dimensions of the paranasal sinuses, especially the thickness of the anterior wall of the maxillary sinus (at the canine fossa). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the thickness of the canine fossa. This study aimed to (a) estimate different dimensions of the maxillary and frontal sinuses measured on computed tomography (CT) of the head, (b) define cut-off values for the normal upper and lower limits of the different measured structures, (c) determine differences in age, side and gender, (d) compare manually and automatically estimated maxillary sinuses volumes, and (e) present incidental findings in the paranasal sinuses among the study patients.     

Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities in experimental maxillary sinusitis

The aims of this study were to assess whether th e increased oxidative stress of acute maxillary sinusitis is reflected by tissue lipid peroxidation and whether the activities of selected antioxidant enzymes are altered during inflammation of the maxillary sinus mucosa. Unilateral rhinosinusitis was induced in 8 rabbits by instillation of 0.2 ml of a killed suspension of Staphylococcus aureus into the right maxillary sinus cavity; control instillation of saline solution into the left maxillary sinus cavity of the same rabbits was also performed. At 7 days post-treatment, mucosal samples were excised from the treated and control sinuses for measurements of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA). The SOD activity in mucosa of the inflammed sinuses was significantly higher than in control sinus mucosa; GPx activity was significantly lower in the inflammed sinuses than in the controls. No significant differences were found in CAT activities or MDA levels of the inflammed versus the control sinus mucosa. These findings demonstrate that experimental induction of acute maxillary sinusitis in rabbits does not increase lipid peroxidation as evidenced by MDA levels in the sinus mucosa, but does alter the activities of some antioxidant enzymes.     

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery--I (Anatomy, diagnosis, evaluation and technique)

It has been proved beyond doubt that the causation and perpetuation of disease in the dependent sinuses (maxillary and frontal sinuses) is secondary to disease of the ostiomeatal complex, the primary focus of which is the anterior ethmoid. Based on this concept, functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) aims at correcting the underlying pathology in the ethmoids and helps to re-establish normal ventilation and mucociliary clearance of the dependent sinuses.     

Sinusitis in Thai asthmatic children.

The radiographic appearance of sinuses was studied in 146 Thai asthmatic patients aged 1-13 years. Forty-eight percent of cases showed sinusitis by the radiographic criteria. The maxillary sinus was most commonly involved (98.6%). Thirty-three percent had ethmoidal sinusitis and 7% of those with developed frontal sinuses had frontal sinusitis. Thirty-three percent had more than one sinus involved. Those with frontal sinusitis always had maxillary and/or ethmoidal involvement. Sixteen cases had signs and symptoms of sinusitis and all of the cases had the radiographic appearance of sinusitis. There was no correlation between the occurrence of sinusitis and duration or severity of asthma. There was no difference in the occurrence of sinusitis between those with or without allergic rhinitis. No correlation between severity of sinusitis and age of patients was observed.     

Use of standard radiography to diagnose paranasal sinus disease of asthmatic children in Taiwan: comparison with computed tomography.

Paranasal sinus disease and bronchial asthma are frequently associated. Computed tomography imaging is currently the most reliable method for confirming the diagnosis of sinusitis. Due to the cost and amount of radiation during computed tomography, our aim was to analyze whether standard radiography, under computed tomography-control, had a reasonable degree of confidence in the diagnosis of sinusitis. Fifty-three asthmatic patients (42 males and 11 females) with a mean age of 9 years (range 4-14) were enrolled. We evaluated the maxillary sinuses, ethmoidal sinuses, frontal sinuses, and sphenoidal sinuses using standard radiography (Waters' view, Caldwell view, and lateral view) and compared with computed tomography (coronal views), the latter served as a standard. Computed tomography (CT) showed paranasal sinusitis in 58% (31/53) of the asthmatic children. Compared with the results of computed tomography, standard radiography revealed a sensitivity of 81.1% and a specificity of 72.7% for maxillary sinusitis. The sensitivity and specificity for ethmoidal, frontal, and sphenoidal sinusitis were 51.8%, 84.8%; 47.3%, 87.2%; and 40.8%, 93.3%, respectively. In 21 (40%) of the 53 patients, discrepancies were seen between the interpretations of standard radiography c and those of CT scans. In patients with maxillary sinusitis, the correlation between standard radiography and CT was good. However, ethmoidal, frontal, and sphenoidal sinusitis were poorly demonstrated using radiography. Standard radiography can be recommended as a screening method for maxillary sinusitis, but it is not recommended for the diagnosis of other paranasal sinusitis.     

Radiologic anatomy of the paranasal sinuses in the child

Summary The development of the paranasal or accessory sinuses begins very early in utero. In the newborn the ethmoidal sinus, which gives rise to all the other sinuses, as well as the maxillary sinus, can already be identified on x-rays. The frontal sinus appears as a triangle at the age of four and oversteps the supraorbital margin at the age of six. The sphenoidal sinus begins to excavate the concha sphenoidalis at the age of four and can be seen on x-rays at the age of eight, when it extends to the hypophyseal fossa. In the twelve-year-old child all sinuses almost reach their final sizes. However, the size and shape of all sinuses, particularly of the frontal and the sphenoidal sinuses are very different.

---

Anatomie radiologique des sinus para-nasaux chez l'enfant

Résumé Le développement des sinus para-nasaux ou sinus accessoires commence très précocement dans la vie in-utéro. Chez le nouveau-né le sinus ethmoïdal, qui contrôle l'apparition de tous les autres sinus, et le sinus maxillaire peuvent déjà être identifiés à la radio. Le sinus frontal a la forme d'un triangle a l'âge de 4 ans et franchit la ligne supra-orbitaire à 6 ans. Le sinus sphénoïdal commence à creuser le cornet sphénoïdal dès l'âge de 4 ans et devient visible à la radio à 8 ans lorsqu'il s'étend jusqu'à la fosse hypophysaire. Chez l'enfant de 12 ans tous les sinus ont pratiquement atteint leur taille adulte. Cependant la taille et la forme de ces sinus et spécialement les sinus frontaux et sphénoïdaux sont très différentes.

     

Absence of frontal sinus in Turkish individuals

The frontal sinus has been used for personal identification since the early part of the 20th century as a result of its tremendous interindividual variation. The frontal sinus is present in approximately 90% of adults. However, some populations have a higher proportion of people without a frontal sinus. This study investigated the frequency of the absence of frontal sinuses in Turkish individuals. The present study was performed retrospectively on the CT scans of the paranasal sinuses in the axial and coronal planes from a series of 1200 cases. A bilateral absence and a unilateral absence of sinuses were found in 3.8% and 4.8% of cases, respectively. The clinical significance of the frontal sinuses and their absence are also discussed.     

Cholesterol granuloma of the maxillary sinus

Cholesterol granuloma is usually associated with chronic middle ear disease and is common in the mastoid antrum and air cells of the temporal bone. It has also been reported in other parts of the skull, such as the frontal and maxillary sinuses and orbit. Cholesterol granuloma is rare in the paranasal sinuses. We report a new case of cholesterol granuloma in the maxillary sinus of a 38-year-old man who underwent surgical excision. We also review the literature and discuss the mechanism of development for this lesion. The resected specimen showed fragments of respiratory mucosa with cholesterol clefts surrounded by multinucleated foreign-body giant cells. Some multinucleated foreign-body giant cells showed asteroid bodies. Hemorrhagic areas, hemosiderin-laden macrophages, chronic inflammatory cells, and dilated lymphatics vessels were seen as well. Increased intrasinus pressure due to drainage obstruction may affect venous and lymphatic drainage from the sinus cavity, leading to venule microhemorrhages while still allowing arterial blood into the sinus mucosa and further contributing to a large localized hemorrhage. Lymphatic drainage may be insufficient to completely remove the lipid components of the red blood cells, and the lipid accumulation may contribute to the formation of cholesterol crystals and their esters.     

兔适合构建鼻窦炎动物模型

背景：以实验动物模拟人类相关疾病是研究疾病发生发生及治疗的基础,鼻腔、鼻窦疾病也需要恰当实验动物作为其模型。 目的：观察兔鼻腔、鼻窦的CT和局部解剖表现,探讨兔应用于鼻窦炎动物模型的可行性。 方法：利用CT使用常规鼻窦冠状位与水平位扫描新西兰兔,随后进行常规鼻腔、鼻窦解剖学观察。 结果与结论：兔鼻中隔将鼻腔分为左右两个腔,鼻腔外侧壁由上颌鼻甲、中间鼻甲、内侧鼻甲、下鼻甲组成,上颌窦窦腔最大,筛窦、蝶窦、额窦相对较小,以上结构均对称分布。兔鼻腔、鼻窦在CT扫描下显示清晰。兔鼻腔、鼻窦的解剖与人类鼻腔、鼻窦解剖结构既有相似也有不同,其上颌窦解剖部位与人相似且窦腔较大便于操作,具有动物实验模型建立的可行性,适用于鼻窦炎动物模型建立,可应用于模拟人类鼻窦炎的研究。 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：肾移植;肝移植;移植;心脏移植;组织移植;皮肤移植;皮瓣移植;血管移植;器官移植;组织工程全文链接：     

The Morphological Interaction Between the Nasal Cavity and Maxillary Sinuses in Living Humans

To understand how variation in nasal architecture accommodates the need for effective conditioning of respired air, it is necessary to assess the morphological interaction between the nasal cavity and other aspects of the nasofacial skeleton. Previous studies indicate that the maxillary sinuses may play a key role in accommodating climatically induced nasal variation such that a decrease in nasal cavity volume is associated with a concomitant increase in maxillary sinus volume. However, due to conflicting results in previous studies, the precise interaction of the nasal cavity and maxillary sinuses, in humans, is unclear. This is likely due to the prior emphasis on nasal cavity size, whereas arguably, nasal cavity shape is more important with regard to the interaction with the maxillary sinuses. Using computed tomography scans of living human subjects (N=40), the goal of this study is to assess the interaction between nasal cavity form and maxillary sinus volume in European‐ and African‐derived individuals with differences in nasal cavity morphology. First, we assessed whether there is an inverse relationship between nasal cavity and maxillary sinus volumes. Next, we examined the relationship between maxillary sinus volume and nasal cavity shape using multivariate regression. Our results show that there is a positive relationship between nasal cavity and maxillary sinus volume, indicating that the maxillary sinuses do not accommodate variation in nasal cavity size. However, maxillary sinus volume is significantly correlated with variation in relative internal nasal breadth. Thus, the maxillary sinuses appear to be important for accommodating nasal cavity shape rather than size. Anat Rec, 296:414–426, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Maxillary and sphenoid sinus aplasia in Turkish individuals: a retrospective review using computed tomography

The absence of a maxillary or sphenoid sinus in an adult is an extremely rare condition. We investigated maxillary and sphenoid sinus aplasia in adult Turkish individuals using computed tomography (CT). We examined CT scans in the axial and coronal planes of the paranasal sinuses in 1,526 patients. The CT scans of a 21-year-old male were notable for bilateral maxillary sinus aplasia. Another patient, a 20-year-old female, had CT scans that showed the unilateral absence of a maxillary sinus. Two additional cases showed the unilateral absence of one sphenoid sinus. Bilateral absence of the sphenoid sinuses was not observed in our study. The clinical implications of maxillary and sphenoid sinus aplasia will be further discussed.     

Nonintrusive gas monitoring in neonatal lungs using diode laser spectroscopy: feasibility study

A feasibility study on noninvasive, real-time monitoring of gases in lungs of preterm infants is reported, where a laser-spectroscopic technique using diode lasers tuned to oxygen and water vapor absorption lines was employed on realistic tissue phantoms. Our work suggests that the technique could provide a new possibility for surveillance of the lung function of preterm infants, in particular the oxygenation, which is of prime importance in this patient group.     

Effect of accessory ostia on maxillary sinus ventilation: A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) study

We evaluated, by CFD simulation, effects of accessory ostium (AO) on maxillary sinus ventilation. A three-dimensional nasal model was constructed from an adult CT scan with two left maxillary AOs (sinus I) and one right AO (sinus II), then compared to an identical control model with all AOs sealed (sinuses III and IV). Transient simulations of quiet inspiration and expiration at 15L/min, and nasal blow at 48L/min, were calculated for both models using low-Reynolds-number turbulent analysis. At low flows, ventilation rates in sinuses with AOs (I≈0.46L/min, II≈0.54L/min), were both more than a magnitude higher than sinuses without AOs (III≈0.019L/min, IV≈0.020L/min). Absence of AO almost completely prevented sinus ventilation. Increased ventilation of sinuses with AOs is complex. Under high flow conditions mimicking nose blowing, in sinuses II, III, and IV, the sinus flow rate increased. In contrast, the airflow direction through sinus I reversed between inspiration and expiration, while it remained almost constant throughout the respiration cycle in sinus II. CFD simulation demonstrated that AOs markedly increase maxillary sinus airflow rates and alter sinus air circulation patterns. Whether these airflow changes impact maxillary sinus physiology or pathophysiology is unknown.     

The neglected maxillary process of the palatine bone.

In most recent anatomy textbooks as well as in the latest anatomical nomenclature, the maxillary process of the palatine bone is not mentioned at all. The maxillary process is, however with rare exceptions, always present as an important part of the closure of the hiatus sinus maxillaris. In our material consisting of 200 disarticulated, macerated skull bones and 25 specimens of maxillary sinus, the maxillary process was missing in only 5 cases (2.2%). This process develops in the second year of life and displays different shapes. It can be long and slender or wide and round shaped. Its upper margin is more or less concave, corresponding to the margin of the hiatus over which it is bent. Its inferior margin can be smooth or irregular. In instances in which maxillary sinus is double, the os palatinum has two maxillary processes, so that both sinuses are partly closed with the maxillary process of the palatine bone.     

Respiratory diseases in the late middle ages

Respiratory diseases have beset humanity from the earliest times. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of respiratory diseases in the inhabitants of a large medieval city. We analyzed 110 skeletons, coming from 12 to 17th century of individuals of either gender. In order to assess pneumatisation of paranasal sinuses and nasal septum curvature, radiographs were performed in the PA projection. Nasal septum deviation was found in 50% of individuals, asymmetry of the frontal sinuses and their aplasia in 11% of individuals. There was no significant relationship between the curvature of the nasal septum and frontal sinus aplasia. One case of tuberculosis and one case of periradicular abscess causing perforation of the maxillary sinus were noted. Developmental variation of the sternum was present in two individuals. In another two individuals, rib fractures with bone union were observed.     

重组人表皮生长因子及碱性成纤维细胞生长因子联合应用促进内镜鼻窦手术后术腔创面上皮化的疗效观察

目的观察rhEGF凝胶及bFGF滴眼液联合应用对鼻内窥镜鼻窦相关手术后的术腔创面黏膜上皮化的效果。方法对30例（60侧）经鼻内镜全鼻窦开放术患者进行同体对照观察，左侧为观察组，鼻窦术后每周在鼻内镜下作一次详尽术腔清理，于术腔置放rhEGF凝胶及bFGF滴眼液，混合抗生素和地塞米松的明胶海绵；右侧为对照组鼻窦每天使用鼻腔冲洗器自行冲洗鼻腔，鼻内使用局部类固醇激素，每周作鼻内镜下的术腔清理1次。连续内镜随访12周，观察双侧术腔上皮化过程。结果观察组治愈（28例）93．33％，好转（2例）6．67％，平均上皮化时间4周；对照组治愈（24例）80％，好转（6例）20％，平均上皮化时间9周，平均上皮化时间差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。结论鼻内窥镜鼻窦手术后联合应用rhEGF及bFGF可以促进术腔上皮化，显著缩短上皮化时间，治疗效果好。